Page 33 of Shattered Veil
“You’re alive,” she chokes out, her voice muffled.“I thought... I was afraid...”
Rory’s arms engulf her, his large frame dwarfing hers.“Takes more than a fucked-up shadow realm to keep me down, love,” he says, but his voice catches.
Something twists in my gut as I watch them. The vulnerability—it’s unsettling.
“Don’t you ever do that again,” Brigid says, pulling back to look at Rory’s face. Her eyes are bright with unshed tears.“I swear, I’ll kill you myself if you—”
Rory cuts her off with a laugh, but it’s tinged with pain.“Missed you too, love.”
I push myself to my feet, wincing at the sting across my back. Neither of them seems to notice. They’re lost in their own world, one where I clearly don’t belong.
Silently, I slip back into the shadows. It’s where I’m most comfortable, anyway.
Brigid’s hand shakes as she touches Rory’s face, as if making sure he’s real. The tenderness in her expression is like a knife to my chest. But at the same time, seeing her look that way at Rory, makes me feel…good? Now that’s fucking weird.
I lean against the wall, watching them from the darkness. The protective instinct that drove me to save Rory wars with a possessive urge I can’t shake.I sure the fuck didn’t do it for him. I did it for her.
Brigid is mine.And I take care of what is mine.
But seeing her relief, her joy—it satisfies something deep inside me.
“How did you even find me?” I hear Rory ask, his voice rough.
Brigid glances around, her brow furrowing.“Marius... he—” She stops, probably looking around for me.
But by the time she does, I’m already gone.
Chapter Fifteen
Brigid
My hands are unsteady as I reach out, fingertips gliding over Rory’s face. I search for any sign of injury, my eyes scanning over his familiar features.
“Are you hurt? God, Rory, I’m so sorry,” I whisper, voice cracking.“This is all my fault. The rift, you getting sucked in...”
Rory catches my hands in his, stilling their frantic movements. His smile is tired but warm.“Hey, I’m okay. Really.”
I shake my head, not quite believing it.“But the void—”
“Was a hell of a trip,” he interrupts gently.“But nothing I couldn’t handle.”
My throat tightens. Even now, he’s trying to protect me from worry. Typical Rory.
“If I’d known—”
“You couldn’t have,” Rory says firmly. He squeezes my hands.“What matters is I’m back. In one piece, see?”
Although I want to believe him, guilt gnaws at me. My inability to contain my shadow magic nearly cost him everything.
Rory’s thumb traces lines on my skin.“Stop that,” he says softly.“I can see you beating yourself up. It wasn’t your fault, Brigid.”
His touch grounds me, steadying my racing thoughts. I take a shaky breath.“I’m just... I’m glad you’re here.”
“I thought I’d lost you. When you disappeared... God, Rory, I’ve never been so scared.”
My eyes burn with unshed tears. The fear I’ve been holding back since he vanished crashes over me like a tidal wave.
Rory’s hands tighten on mine. His eyes lock onto my face with an earnestness that quiets me.“Listen to me, Brigid Ryan. I will never leave you. Not by choice, not by force, not by any fucking interdimensional rift. You’re stuck with me, got it? You and I, we’re fated mates. Nothing can break that bond.”
